Australia’s labour market strengthened in October 2025, with the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate easing to 4.3 per cent after a temporary rise in September, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The rate aligns with levels recorded through June to August, signalling continued labour market stability despite pockets of adjustment.

The number of unemployed people fell by 17,000, while employment expanded by 42,000. More jobseekers moved directly into employment than is typical for October, lifting full-time employment sharply by 55,000. Both women and men contributed to these gains, with female full-time employment rising by 29,000 and male full-time employment by 26,000, ABS said in a press release.

Australia’s unemployment rate fell to 4.3 per cent in October as 42,000 people gained jobs and unemployment dropped by 17,000.
Strong full-time growth, especially among women, outweighed a fall in part-time roles.
Participation held at 67 per cent, while hours worked rose 0.5 per cent.
Underemployment edged down to 5.7 per cent.
Trend unemployment rate stood at 4.4 per cent.

Part-time employment fell by 13,000, driven primarily by a 21,000 drop among women, partly offset by an 8,000 rise among men. The participation rate held steady at 67 per cent overall, although it diverged by gender: male participation increased to 71 per cent, while female participation slipped to 63.1 per cent. The employment-to-population ratio remained stable at 64 per cent.

Hours worked rose by 0.5 per cent—outpacing the rise in employment—indicating stronger labour demand and fewer people working reduced hours. The underemployment rate dropped to 5.7 per cent, down 0.2 percentage points for the month and 0.5 percentage points from a year earlier. Combined with lower unemployment, the underutilisation rate dipped to 10.0 per cent, continuing its steady improvement since 2020.

Trend data reaffirmed this resilience, with trend unemployment holding at 4.4 per cent. Trend unemployment is the jobless rate shown without short-term fluctuations, giving a clearer picture of the labour market’s real direction.

Trend employment grew by 27,000 (0.2 per cent) in October and 1.5 per cent over the year. Monthly hours worked rose by 0.1 per cent in trend terms, slightly lagging employment growth but remaining broadly consistent with long-term patterns. Trend participation edged up to 67 per cent, while the employment-to-population ratio stayed at 64 per cent. The trend underemployment and underutilisation rates were steady at 5.8 per cent and 10.1 per cent respectively, added the release.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)

Pinterest’s operations in the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, and Spain have been entrusted to Beth Horn, who has been appointed as the social network’s Vice-President for Southern Europe.

Beth Horn previously served as business director for the UK market. She joined Pinterest in June 2024, having earlier served as director of sales at Spotify, and she spent twelve years at Meta, where she held director roles across industry, retail, and commerce.

“As we step up our international efforts, Beth will draw on her extensive experience to advance our strategy,” said Cécile van Steenberge, the company’s international vice-president. “Her proven ability to bring teams together and deliver results for our advertising partners puts us in an ideal position for the next stage of our growth. For the ninth consecutive quarter, our audience continues to grow. We will remain committed to showcasing what makes Pinterest unique to brands and attracting them to the platform.”

The group says the appointment comes after a 41% jump in revenue. In the third quarter, nearly 83% of users of the inspiration-focused social network were outside the US.

Launched in 2010 in San Francisco, Pinterest now claims half a billion monthly active users. Two years ago, the group launched a charm offensive aimed at luxury brands, highlighting its young, affluent audience.